By Craig Kerry
Adrian Bott hopes a return to Rosehill and rise in distance can spark Mayfair in the group 2 Hobartville Stakes (1400m) after a first-up run that left the trainer scratching his head.
Mayfair was stuck three wide without cover from the outside gate in the 1200m Eskimo Prince Stakes two weeks ago at Randwick and faded to finish more than six lengths off winner Public Attention in seventh.
Mayfair, left, finishing second in the San Domenico Stakes.Credit: Getty Images
It was a disappointing result from the Fastnet Rock colt, which was just a third of a length away from Broadsiding when third in the group 1 Golden Rose in the spring.
He meets Broadsiding, Australia’s champion two-year-old of last season, again on Saturday. The Godolphin star was the $2.15 Sportsbet favourite to win the $400,000 event for three-year-olds first-up.
Stewards asked Bott and co-trainer Gai Waterhouse to provide a follow-up report on Mayfair’s condition after the Eskimo Prince, but the stable found no problems.
Bott hoped a return to Rosehill, where Mayfair ($10) has a win and three placings in four starts, and a better draw in six would bring a turnaround.
“He was [disappointing], no excuse,” Bott said. “We couldn’t find any issues after the run. He does get the addition of a tongue tie, which is sort of the only gear change we’ll be making going into Saturday.
“I think the additional distance will help, maybe getting back to Rosehill will be an advantage for him. He’s raced well there up in trip.
“I’ve got to be forgiving of him of that run, given his form previously, but obviously concerning that first-up run. It was a bit of a head-scratcher.
“There were probably a few surprising things out of that race, his early speed being one. He probably had a run that was a bit tough. He had to cover a bit of ground, but it was on-pace dominated and he gave ground sooner than we would have liked to have seen.
“It’s an important race for him on Saturday to turn that around. That draw will help, he was out wide the other day and dictated to a bit. He seems good in his work, and we were pleased with him going into that first-up run, so that dented our confidence a lot, so he’s got to regain it for us on Saturday.”
North England was also set to carry the China Horse Club colours for the stable and jockey Tim Clark on Saturday in the group 2 Silver Slipper for two-year-olds but the Golden Gift winner was scratched on Thursday.
The Farnan colt was among the top chances in the race and had won both trials following a 10-week let-up.
North England remains the stable’s No.1 hope for the March 22, $5 million Golden Slipper and was $11 for the race.
Bott confirmed on Thursday that North England had been withdrawn as precautionary measure after returning unsatisfactory blood work.
He said North England was expected to instead race in the group 2 Todman Stakes over 1200m for two-year-olds at Randwick on March 8.
The draw in 10 of 11 for North England, an on-pace runner, in the Silver Slipper had also been a concern for Bott on Wednesday.
